One angry father told the Daily Star: “It’s like Christmas is being hijacked. It’s mad. Why do we have these lights up for Eid and Diwali when they’ve finished? [>

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“We wouldn’t go around putting Santas up on any of these festivals.” [>

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But council bosses in Rochdale say they want to keep the lights to “represent the community”. [>

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Another resident said: “The lights look fantastic ... but I don’t see why they have to have all these other festivals in them.” [>

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Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, West Yorks, said: “I’ve no idea why local authorities up and down the country are so ashamed of celebrating Christmas. [>

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“All this kind of pussyfooting around is done in the name of not offending other people from other faiths. But it tends to be done by white middle-class people with some kind of bizarre guilt complex.” [>

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Former Blue star Simon Webbe, 31, flicked the switch last night to turn on the lights, which cost £89,500. [>

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A spokesman for Rochdale Council said: “We have a varied and diverse display, representing our community.” keir.mudie@dailystar.co.uk [>